Railroad-tie



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. P. HAMMOND. RAILROAD TIE.

Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. P. HAMMOND. RAILROAD TIE.

No. 463,045. Patented Nov. 10,1891.

- UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

CHARLES P. HAMMOND, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,045, dated November 10, 1891.

- Application filed December 4:, 1890. Serial No- 373,515. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, CHARLES P. HAMMOND, a citizen of Birmingham, in the county of Jetferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in railway-ties, and more particularly to such as are made of metal, the object being to pro duce a metallic tie, preferably of sheet metal, which shall be of simple construction, cheap to manufacture, easy of application, and effective in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to produce a metallic railroad-tie adapted to receive devices for securing a rail thereto, the construction of the tie being such that it will possess a requisite amount of strength, and the construction of the fastening devices being such that their production shall be simple and cheap and their application simple, easy, and effective.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvements having a rail applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view on the line 00 x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a viewon the line 3 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe clamping-block. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the wedge or key. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tie.

A represents a tie preferably made of sheet metal and provided at its edges with depending flanges a and preferably with an open center, as shown at B, Fig. 6. WVhen the'upper surface of the tie is continuous or closed, there is a tendency, when the road-bed is loosened or washed from under the ends of the ties, of the ties to rock lengthwise on their centers, and consequently throw considerable strain on the centers, which causes them to bulge up. By leaving the centers open this tendency to rock and bulge at the centers is entirely overcome. In proximity to the ends of the tie and near the longitudinal edges thereof elongated slots 0 are made, the side walls of said slots being provided with recesses c for a purpose hereinafter explained,

thus making the general form of said slots T- shaped. In proximity to the opposite longitudinal edge of the tie from the slots 0 and nearer the center of the tie are similarlyshaped slots d. At points near the ends of the tie and in line with the slots 0 the tie is slotted and the metal bent up to produce clips c, said slots being so produced that the clips e will be disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tie. In line with the slots d the tie is slotted and the metal turned up to produce clips e, which project toward the slots cl. 7

I have described the slotting of the tie to receive fastening devices for two rails; but in describing said fastening devices a description of one set will suffice for both. The rail is placed on the tie between the slots 0 d and a clamping-block O inserted in the widened portion of each slot c d. This clamping-block is provided in its sides with grooves f, adapted to receive the side walls of the slots 0 d, and with oppositely-projecting flanges g g. The clamping-blocks O beinginserted in the slots 0 d, they are moved up until one of theirfianges 9 projects over the flange of the rail. Inserted between the blocks Oand clipse c and adapted to rest under said clips and under the flanges g of the blocks 0 are wedge-shaped plates or keys D, which being driven forward will cause the blocks 0 to closely hug the flanges of the rail and securely fasten it to the tie. The wedges D are warped or bent somewhat, so that when it is driven to its seat the spring in the metal will hold it in place. One edge of the plate or key D is made at right angles to the ends of the key, while the other edge is made inclined. In this manner the keyis made to lie parallel with the block 0, while the inclined edge will lie parallel with the inclined clips c 8, thereby rendering it capable of use either right or left handed, and at the same time render it symmetrical and square at both ends.

Slight changes might be made in thedetails of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a tie and integral clip formed on the upper surface thereof, said tie having slots therein, of a clamping-block having grooves in its opposite edges to receive the parallel edges of the slot, and akey for insertion between the outer flange of the block and the clip and seated on the tie, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a tie and integral clip formed on the upper surface thereof, said tie having elongated slots formed therein, these slots having enlargements, of clampingblocks adapted to enter at the enlarged points of the elongated slots and provided in their edges with grooves to receive the parallel edges of the slots, and a key for insertion between the outer flange of the block and the clip and seated on the tie, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a metallic railroad-tie, of a diagonally-disposed clip proj ecting therefrom, a block having oppositely-projecting flanges, and a wedge key or plate having one edge adapted to lie parallel with the said clampingblock and the other wall adapted to lie parallel with the clip, said plate being slightly Warped or bent, substantially as set forth.

l. The combination, with a metallic railroad-tie having a slot therein, of a clampingblock having grooves to receive the walls of said slot and oppositely-projecting flanges, a

clip on said tie, and a wedge or key inserted between the block and clip and adapted to rest under one flange of the block and under the Vitnesses:

II. C. ANSLEY, W. J. LovELL, Jr. 

